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Oneida Post’s lead over Parkhurst Post wiped away after storms postpone game

Parkhurst Post's Ethan Juarez (22) tags out Oneida Post's Joe Stoffle (28) trying to score on a fly ball to left field during their game on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 in Oneida. The game was cancelled after the first inning due to lightning.
JOHN HAEGER - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH @ONEIDAPHOTO ON TWITTER

Parkhurst's Sam Martel (10) slides into second for a stolen base as Oneida's Nate Carinci (2) is pulled from the bag by the throw during their game on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 in Oneida.
JOHN HAEGER - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH @ONEIDAPHOTO ON TWITTER

ONEIDA >> After the start of Tuesday’s scheduled American Legion baseball game between Oneida Post and Parkhurst Post was postponed by over an hour, Oneida stormed out to a 3-1 lead in the first inning.

Unfortunately for the hosts, the game was then stormed out.

Thunder and lightning in the area prompted the umpires to cancel the contest as Oneida was taking the field for the top of the second, nullifying the results of the first inning. The contest will restart from the beginning when it is rescheduled.

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“When you sit around waiting for a game to start and you’re delayed, people get down,” said Oneida coach Deric Crisafi. “So I was happy to see everybody still in the game. Even after we went down 1-0, everybody was in it. We have a lot of confidence right now.”

His team was coming off a doubleheader sweep of Moran/Sylvan Beach Post on Monday. Oneida took the first game 7-3 behind a strong effort from Andrew Sreca on the mound and Drew Mallinder’s 3-for-3 performance at the plate in which he scored three runs. Crisafi’s squad took a 2-0 lead in the second game but surrendered three runs in the bottom of the sixth to fall behind 4-2. However, Oneida came back with a four-run frame in the top of the seventh for a 6-2 victory to improve to 5-6 on the year.

“It was a great comeback win to get us on the right track and boost our record; get our confidence up,” said Crisafi.

Crisafi was hoping his team could keep that momentum going on Tuesday. Although the sky was already getting dark when the first pitch was thrown, neither teams’ batters had trouble seeing the ball. Ethan Juarez gave Parkhurst a 1-0 lead against Oneida starter Jake Purdy with an RBI double. Nate Carinci led off the bottom of the frame with a double and Derek Connelly walked two batters later. Drew Mallinder singled home Carinci and Connelly scored on an error before Joe Stoffle doubled to score Mallinder and give Oneida a 3-1 lead.

However, none of it will matter when the game, which has not yet been rescheduled, is restarted.

“We started hot,” said Crisafi. “Wanted to keep that going but can’t play weatherman here.”

His team’s next scheduled game is Thursday against Ilion Post.

“Lot of guys have been hitting and we’ve been playing good defense,” said Crisafi. “If you can hit, play good defense and keep the momentum up, you’re going to win games. It’s as simple as that.”

About the Author

Kyle Mennig, sports editor for the Oneida Dispatch, originally hails from Munnsville. Kyle graduated from Geneseo State in 2008 and covers local sporting events, focusing on area high schools. Reach the author at kmennig@oneidadispatch.com
or follow Kyle on Twitter: @DispatchKyle.